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August 16, 2014

7 months and 15 days
sincethe event.

ALFW / 99 Mile Ride For Mike!

This year ALFW will be teaming up with John and Luann Ellsessar’s foundation, The Michael T. Ellsessar Memorial Fund, to complete a 99 mile ride. Your commitment, effort and fundraising will help the Ellsessar’s achieve their goal of providing every school with a portable AED (automated external defibrillator).

For those of you who don’t know the Ellsessar’s, “Their son Michael wore No. 99 on his football jersey, but his parents would say that he was No. 1 in their hearts. Michael loved all sports, playing football in the fall, track and field in the spring, but his passion was hockey in the winter. He was a great student and a great teammate. In the fall of 2010, it was the second play of the game at Quaboag Regional High School in Warren when Michael, a sophomore at Sutton Memorial High School and a member of the Oxford High School junior varsity team, caught a pass and was hit in the chest by an opposing player. He was tackled and fell over, Michael suffered sudden cardiac arrest. The referee, rushed to Michael and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but a portable automated external defibrillator (AED) wasn't available until EMT's arrived 15 minutes later. Unfortunately Michael’s story has a tragic end, schools need to be prepared for all medical emergency including ones that occur on the athletic fields. Michael’s parents, John and Luann have been tireless advocates on making sure that all schools are prepared for medical emergencies.